Ep 27. Between the Lines

In season 12 episode 27 of Forensic Files titled "Between the Lines," the focus is on the investigation of a woman named Janet Walsh who was found murdered in her home. The case baffled investigators as there was no sign of forced entry, and it appeared that nothing had been stolen from the home. To make matters worse, the victim's means of death was undetermined, leading to a much more complicated investigation.

In order to solve the case, the investigators had to rely on a combination of forensic evidence and witness statements. The forensic evidence included blood and fingerprints found at the scene, as well as DNA evidence found on the victim's body. The witness statements came from neighbors who heard or saw something suspicious around the time of the murder.

Through the forensic evidence, the investigators were able to narrow down a list of suspects. They discovered that the blood and fingerprints found at the scene belonged to a man named David West, who had a prior criminal history and was known to the victim. The investigators then turned their attention to getting more information from the witnesses.

One neighbor in particular had reported seeing a man in a car parked outside of Janet's house several times in the weeks leading up to the murder. The witness's description of the man matched the physical appearance of David West, and they were able to confirm this through driver's license records.

At this point, the investigators had enough evidence to bring David West in for questioning. During the interrogation, West initially denied any involvement in the crime. However, after being presented with the forensic evidence and witness statements, he eventually confessed to the murder.

The episode also delves into the challenges of determining the cause of death when there are no obvious signs of trauma or injury. Through the use of forensic evidence and autopsy findings, the investigators were able to determine that Janet Walsh had been suffocated, likely by someone sitting on her chest.

Overall, "Between the Lines" is a gripping episode of Forensic Files that highlights the importance of combining forensic evidence with witness statements in order to solve puzzling cases. It also showcases the complexities of determining cause of death in cases where there is no clear indication of how the victim died.